Services
Animal Control
It is a violation of the Sundance Mesa Covenants and Sandoval County Ordinance to allow pets to roam free or become a nuisance. Animal Control is administered by the Sheriff’s Department. Lost pets should also be reported to Animal Control.
County Burn Rules
Burning in our dry, windy climate is very dangerous. You can be cited and held liable for damages caused by fire that escapes your control. You can obtain burning information at www.sandovalcountynm.gov/fire/open-burning-info. Most types of burning require a permit. An alternative for getting rid of dead brush, weeds or tumbleweeds is to bag them and take them to the Sandoval County Landfill located in Rio Rancho or have your trash service remove the bags.
Emergency Services
(Fire & Medical)Sundance Mesa receives firefighting and emergency medical services from District 4 of the Sandoval County Fire Department. There are currently three fire stations serving Placitas. The third and newest station is located on Petroglyph Trail in the Anasazi Meadows subdivision. It is staffed 24 hours a day by county career firefighters and paramedics. For all fire and medical emergencies dial 911. Sandoval County requires each home to have reflective red and white house numbers visible at the street. If you need new or replacement numbers they are available free at the Petroglyph station.
Post Office
The Post Office for zip code 87043 is in the village of Placitas. There is also a post office in the town of Bernalillo at 147 Calle del Presidente. Both locations offer USPS services including passport application and renewal.
Septic System
Every home in Sundance Mesa has an individual sewage treatment system (septic). The Rio Rancho Field Office of the NM Environment Department is responsible for issuing permits to install, modify or replace septic systems. Copies of these permits, which include a site plan showing where the septic tank and leach field are located for each home are maintained at the field office. It’s important to know the exact location of your system and leach field, so trees aren’t planted directly over a leach field or within 20 feet of the septic tank. It’s also important to know where your system is located so you can perform maintenance including periodic pumping. With proper maintenance a septic system will last for years.
Sheriff
Placitas has no local police force. Law enforcement is provided by the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Department. The department provides regular patrols of the communities and always has officers in the area.
Water Utility
The La Mesa Water Cooperative was established to supply water to Sundance Mesa and its neighbor subdivision, La Mesa. The Coop regularly sends newsletters to its members to keep them informed about important issues. Since water in the desert is a critical commodity, please use water responsibly to avoid waste and expensive water bills. Installation of “smart meters” is complete so residents can easily monitor water use and be alerted to leaks.